On 28 September anti-tank exercise Hunter 2015 kicked off at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė (Švenčionys district). The two-week exercise trains over 350 troops from Lithuanian, Latvian and U.S. anti-tank units to fight against armoured combat vehicles.
"This year this annual anti-tank units training event involves even more troops and for the first - from Latvia, it will also be observed by our colleagues from the Estonian Defence Forces. Given the current security situation, it is crucial to enhance interoperability with allied forces and step our skills of fighting against armoured vehicles. This year the exercise is also planned to involve close air support thus even more expanding the range of our soldiers' skills," Officer Conducting the Exercise Major Edgaras Birvinskas says.
The exercise involves soldiers from three NATO allies' anti-tank units, operators of anti-tank weaponry, and a variety of weaponry capable of neutralising armoured materiel of hostile forces, from anti-tank rifles to modern missile systems. The following anti-tank weaponry will be used for live fire training: Javelin and Spike portable mid-range antitank missile systems, TOW tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missile systems, Carl Gustaf and AT-4 anti-tank grenade launchers, and PV1110 anti-tank recoilless rifles. Soldiers with the Air Defence Battalion will be using a L-70 close range anti-aircraft weapon and RBS70 missile air defence systems. During defensive operations U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters will provide close air support and assist in destroying armoured targets.
On Lithuanian side, the exercise will be attended by soldiers with the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, National Defence Volunteer Force, Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force, Juozas Vitkus Engineer, Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan, Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon, Air Defence (Lithuanian Air Force) and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Headquarters Battalions. Hunter 2015 will comprise theoretical, practical, live fire, and weaponry and ammunition demonstration parts.
Anti-tank units Exercise Hunter held each autumn at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area hones skills of delivering live fire from operated equipment in anti-tank units.
For the Media:
On 8 October Distinguished Visitors and Media Day for Exercise Hunter 2015 will be held at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area.
POC: PR specialist Master Sergeant Gintautas Mauricas, Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force, phone no. 00370 625 84023
